Door locking means

ABSTRACT

Door locking means comprising a door for closing an opening surrounded by a frame that has a channel extending from top to bottom of one side, the door being hingedly connected to the side of the frame opposite said channel side, and being non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width to move the door into and out of the frame channel. Each of the hinges comprises a pin and a journal in which the pin has pivotal movement when the door has been withdrawn from the channel and in which the pin also is laterally movable to permit non-pivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel. Lockable means which may be a cam plate bears on the door edge opposite the frame channel to move the door into the channel. The cam may be provided with a key-operated lock cooperating with means on the frame for retaining the door in the channel and preventing movement of the door from either side. The doors embodying the invention may be house, cabinet or other type doors.

United States Patent Jan. 29, 1974 211 Appl. No.: 299,676

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Bertha L. MacGregor ABSTRACT Door locking means comprising a door for closing an opening surrounded by a frame that has a channel extending from top to bottom of one side, the door being hingedly connected to the side of the frame opposite said channel side, and being non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width to move the door into and out of the frame channel. Each of the hinges comprises a pin and a journal in which the pin has pivotal movement when the door has been withdrawn from the channel and in which the pin also is laterally movable to permit nonpivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel. Lockable means which may be a cam plate bears on the door edge opposite the frame channel to move the door into the channel. The cam may be provided with a key-operated lock cooperating with means on the frame for retaining the door in the channel and preventing movement of the door from either side. The doors embodying the invention may be house, cabinet or other type doors.

11 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED JAN 2 9 1974 SHEEI 2 0F 2 1 DOOR LOCKING MEANS This invention relates to door locking means and particularly to locking means comprising releasable hinges which cooperatelwith door moving mechanism and the door frame, as distinguished from the conventional bolt type lock which cooperates with a metal latch plate mounted on the door frame.

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel locking system by which the door is bodily movable, by sliding non-swinging movement, relatively to its frame; in which the door is movable into a door locking position wherein one vertical edge of the door is located in a channel in one side of the door frame, and is movable into an unlocked position wherein the door is withdrawn from the frame channel and is free to move pivotally on hinges comprising members fastened to the door and to the side of the frame opposite the channel side.

Another object of the invention is to provide hinges in which hingie pins are movable transversely relatively to the journals or supports in which they are mounted, the extent of transverse movement of the hinge pins being substantially equal to the distance required to move the door edge into or out of the frame channel.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the use of conventional key operated bolt type locks which cooperate with a metal latch plate fastened to a door frame. By my invention, door locking means cooperate with mechanism for moving the door from its free position to one in which the entire side edge opposite the hinged side is concealed and retained within the frame channel. Functionally by my invention the door is locked throughout its vertical edge within the frame channel instead 'of by mere engagement of a bolt with a small metal latch plate at one side of the door and frame.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and from the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a door and door locking meansembodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational side view, on an enlarged scale, of the manually operable cam mechanism shown in FIG. I, the full lines showing the cam mechanism and the door;edge in unlocked position and the broken lines showing the cam mechanism and the door edge in the locked position.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, in the plane of the line 33 of FIG. 1, showing the door in the locked position relatively to the door frame.

FIG. 4 is a. view similar to FIG. 3, showing the door in unlocked position relatively to the frame.

FIG. 5 is a' perspective view of the two parts which constitute the'hinge used in the invention, the left hand or pin carrying part being the one which is attached to the door, and the right hand or journal part being the one which is fastened to the door frame.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the combination cam and hinge, in which the cam mechanism is in a position opposite one of the hinges on the door and frame, showing the cam mechanism in door unlocked position and showing in dotted lines linkage between two cam mechanisms if used opposite each of two hinges.

FIG. 7 is an elevational side view of the cam mechanism of FIG. 6 in the door locking position.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view of part of the door and a plan view of the combined hinge and cam mechanism in the unlocked position wherein the door may be swung as shown in broken lines.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8, showing the door and the combined hinge and cam mechanism in the locked door position.

FIG. 10 shows a modified form of hinge which comprises a hinge pin extending vertically from the bottom edge of the door, cooperating with a hinge plate attached to a floor or bottom frame.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, a door 10 closes an opening defined by the door frame that comprises the two vertical members 11 and 12, parallel and adjacent to the vertical edge surfaces 13 and 14, respectively, of the door 10. At the left side, the door frame has an additional element 15 provided with a channel 16. The channel member 15 extends from top to bottom of the door for reception of the door edge 13. Resilient pads 17 cushion the channel 16 for contact with the edge 13 of the door. The frame is set into the wall 18. Movement of the door 10 out of the channel 16 may be achieved manually or by aid of mechanical means referred to hereinafter. The movement of the door is made possible by special hinges 20 preferably located near the top and bottom edges of the door as shown in FIG. 1.

Each hinge 20 comprises two parts shown disassembled in FIG. 5. Said parts are attached, respectively, to the door and door frame at the edge 14 opposite the channel frame 15, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The part of the hinge which is attached to the door 10 comprises a plate 21 that merges into the enlarged body 22 integral with and between the vertically extending pins 23. The part of the hinge which is attached to the frame 12 comprises a plate 25 integral with two vertically spaced apart supporting or journal members 26 each shaped to surround an axially vertical opening, generally circular in cross section, as indicated at 27, and having parallel flat side surfaces 28 spaced apart a distance to receive the pins 23 of the hinge part 21. The circular surface 27 merges into the flat side surfaces 28 by a gently curved cut away area 29 which prevents the pins 23 from becoming bound in the opening defined by the surfaces 27, 28, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. When the two parts of the hinge are assembled, the pins 23 extend upwardly and downwardly, respectively, with the body 22 between the journals'26; the pins having room to move in the openings defined by surfaces 27, 28, a distance equal to the depth of the channel 16, whereby the door edge 13 can be located either within or outside of said channel I6.

Various means for moving the door 10 to the locked position of FIG. 3 may be employed. As shown in the drawings, the door moving means comprises a cam 30 provided with a handle or lever 31. The cam is pivotally mounted at 32 on the door frame 12. When the cam 30 is moved manually from the solid line position of FIG. 2 to the broken line position, the cam contacts the edge 14 of the door and pushes the door bodily to the left of FIG. 3 into the channel 16 so that the edge 13 of the door bears on the pads 17 in the channel. The cam mechanism may be provided with a key actuated lock 33 located in the cam portion 30, or in the handle lever 31, and cooperating with fixed lock parts in the frame to lock the door in the position shown in FIG. 3. The

hinge mechanism may be spring loaded to force the door into the channel 16, as indicated at 38.

When it is desired to move the door bodily from the position of FIG. 3 to the unlocked position of FIG. 4, a manually actuated plunger 34, or electrically actuated or other power mechanism (not shown), may be installed in the frame to push the door edge 13 and move the door toward the hinge side where the hinge plates 21 and 25 are in contact with each other. In the unlocked position, the door can swing pivotally about the hinge pins 23, but in the locked position the hinge pins cannot pivot because the hinge pins are locked between the parallel side surfaces 28 and, further, because the edge 13 of the door is retained in the channel 16 of the frame 15.

The cam mechanism described may be located as shown in FIG. 1, midway between the upper and lower hinges 20, or may be combined with the hinges as shown in FIGS. 6-9. In that modification, one of the journals 26 of each hinge 20 is provided with a laterally extending arm 35 integral with and extending at right angles to the hinge plate 25. A cam mechanism 30, 31, is mounted on each arm 35 of each hinge by pivot 36. The cam mechanisms connected to the two hinges may be linked together as indicated at 37.

If the door has its bottom edge resting on a horizontal sill, the door will be supported in its intended position, with the vertical side edges 13 and 14 perpendicular to the sill. However, if there is a space 40 between the bottom of the door and the sill or floor, as shown in FIG. I, the door will sag slightly toward the edge 13 due to the fact that the hinge pins 23 are movable in the journal 26 between the surfaces 27, 28. To prevent sagging and to support the door above the space 40, I have provided a small protruding shelf 41 on which the bottom edge of the door, adjacent the vertical edge 13, is supported.

A modification of the hinges is shown in FIG. 10, where the door has a pin 45 depending from its bottom edge surface for cooperation with a hinge plate 46 mounted in the horizontal frame or floor. A similar pin extends upwardly from the top of the door for cooperation with a hinge plate attached to the ceiling or top frame (not shown).

The length of travel of the hinge pins, 23 or 45, in their journals, may vary, depending on the depth of the channel 16 in the door frame into which the door 10 is moved by sliding motion, which may be quite small since the door edge 13 is retained throughout its height within the channel frame 15. In the door locking position, the entire edge 13 of the door is inaccessible from either side.

Movement of the door is effected by manual effort by the operator, or by electrical, hydraulic or other power means for opening or closing the door. Locking by key of the cam mechanism in the locked door position prevents movement of the door by either sliding or swinging motion.

As will be understood by reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, and as shown by the broken line position of the door in FIG. 8, the door is free to swing when it has been withdrawn from the channel 16. For most purposes it is sufficient to provide a shallow channel for retaining the door in position where it can be locked. In the event it is desired to use a deeper channel with resultant greater movement of the door in the direction of its width, it may be necessary to locate the journal member of the hinge on the face of the frame so that the journals 26 do not interfere with the swinging movement of the door when the hinge pins 23 have been returned to the position in the opening 27 where they are free to have pivotal movement.

I claim:

1. Door locking means comprising a. a door frame surrounding an opening closed by a door, said frame having a vertically extending channel on one side,

b. a door non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width into and out of said frame channel at one vertical edge of the door,

c. hinges connecting the other vertical edge of the door to the frame, each hinge comprising a pin and a journal in which the pin has pivotal movement when the door has been withdrawn from the channel and in which the pin also is transversely movable to permit non-pivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel, and

d. lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite the frame channel to move said door into the channel.

2. The door locking means defined by claim I, in which the frame channel has surfaces which face the door edge and the door sides adjacent said edge from top to bottom of said door.

3. The door locking means defined by claim I, in which the hinge journals surround an opening circular in cross section communicating with an opening between two parallel sides spaced apart to receive the hinge pin and permit movement of the pin into the circular part of the opening for pivotal movement relatively to the journal, and to permit lateral movement of the pin out of the circular part for movement with the door toward the frame channel.

4. The door locking means defined by claim 3, in which the surfaces of the circular opening in the hinge journals merge into the parallel sides of said opening by a curved surface which prevents binding of the hinge pin in the journal when the pin moves laterally in the opening.

5. The door locking means defined by claim l, in which each hinge comprises a door attachment plate integral with a thickened body portion at one edge of the plate, a pin extending upwardly from said body and a pin extending downwardly from said body, and each hinge comprises a frame attachment plate integral with a pair of vertically spaced journals for reception of the pins of the door attachment plate, said body portion of the door attachment plate fitting between the vertically spaced journals.

6. The door locking means defined by claim I, in which the lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite the frame channel comprises a cam plate pivotally attached to the frame and movable into and out of door edge bearing position.

7. The door locking means defined by claim 6, in which the cam plate is provided with a handle for pivotally moving said cam plate.

8. The door locking means defined by claim 6, in which the cam plate and the door frame are provided with cooperating key-locked means for locking the cam in its door edge bearing position.

9. The door locking means defined by claim 1, which includes means mounted in the frame and movable b. a door non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width into and out of said frame channel at one vertical edge of the door,

c. hinges connected to the door and to the frame conmeeting the door at its top and bottom edges to the frame, each hinge comprising a plate fastened to either the top or bottom of the frame and a pin extending from the door into one of said plates, each of said plates having an opening consisting of a circular area and a parallel sided area through which the pin can move into and out of the circular area, said pin having pivotal movement in the circular opening when the door is moved out of the channel and is transversely movable to permit non-pivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel, and

d. lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite the frame channel to move said door into the channel. 

1. Door locking means comprising a. a door frame surrounding an opening closed by a door, said frame having a vertically extending channel on one side, b. a door non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width into and out of said frame channel at one vertical edge of the door, c. hinges connecting the other vertical edge of the door to the frame, each hinge comprising a pin and a journal in which the pin has pivotal movement when the door has been withdrawn from the channel and in which the pin also is transversely movable to permit non-pivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel, and d. lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite the frame channel to move said door into the channel.
 2. The door locking means defined by claim 1, in which the frame channel has surfaces which face the door edge and the door sides adjacent said edge from top to bottom of said door.
 3. The door locking means defined by claim 1, in which the hinge journals surround an opening circular in cross section communicating with an opening between two parallel sides spaced apart to receive the hinge pin and permit movement of the pin into the circular part of the opening for pivotal movement relatively to the journal, and to permit lateral movement of the pin out of the circular part for movement with the door toward the frame channel.
 4. The door locking means defined by claim 3, in which the surfaces of the circular opening in the hinge journals merge into the parallel sides of said opening by a curved surface which prevents binding of the hinge pin in the journal when the pin moves laterally in the opening.
 5. The door locking means defined by claim 1, in which each hinge comprises a door attachment plate integral with a thickened body portion at one edge of the plate, a pin extending upwardly from said body and a pin extending downwardly from said body, and each hinge comprises a frame attachment plate integral with a pair of vertically spaced journals for reception of the pins of the door attachment plate, said body portion of the door attachment plate fitting between the vertically spaced journals.
 6. The door locking means defined by claim 1, in which the lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite the frame channel comprises a cam plate pivotally attached to the frame and movable into and out of door edge bearing position.
 7. The door locking means defined by claim 6, in which the cam plate is provided with a handle for pivotally moving said cam plate.
 8. The door locking means defined by claim 6, in which the cam plate and the door frame are provided with cooperating key-locked means for locking the cam in its door edge bearing position.
 9. The door locking means defined by claim 1, which includes means mounted in the frame and movable through the frame channel into door bearing position for moving the door out of the channel.
 10. The door locking means defined by claim 1, which includes a shelf-like projection that extends from the door frame into the door opening if the door bottom edge is spaced from the floor or sill, for supporting the door to prevent sagging.
 11. Door locking means comprising a. a door frame surrounding an opening closed by a door, said frame having a vertically extending channel on one side, b. a door non-pivotally movable relatively to the frame in the direction of the door width into and out of said frame channel at one vertical edge of the door, c. hinges connected to the door and to the frame connecting the door at its top and bottom edges to the frame, each hinge comprising a plate fastened to either the top or bottom of the frame and a pin extending from the door into one of said plates, each of said plates having an opening consisting of a circular area and a parallel sided area through which the pin can move into and out of the circular area, said pin having pivotal movement in the circular opening when the door is moved out of the channel and is transversely movable to permit non-pivotal movement of the door into and out of the frame channel, and d. lockable means bearing on the door edge opposite thE frame channel to move said door into the channel. 